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www.southbanklondon.com
London Eye to the
Imperial War Museum
Walk This Way
South Bank
architecture
+
history at your feet
South Bank is an area of incredible history, architecture,
culture and regeneration. Originally isolated and defined
by the Thames, for centuries this riverside location
developed in a very different way from the affluent north
bank. A marshy expanse of slum housing and country
estates; a rural haven of green fields and pleasure gardens;
a dynamic hub of industry and manufacturing; a nucleus
of nineteenth-century theatre and entertainment venues;
a host to the largest railway terminus in the country; and
a byword for post-war cultural restoration. South Bank is
now home to great national centres for art and culture,
a vibrant and growing community and some of Londons
finest achievements in architecture, such as the London
Eye, which drew the attention of the world in the
Millennium Year. Throughout its history, the South Bank
has endured fire, flood, slum clearance, railway demolition,
devastating bombing, and the ebb and flow of investment
and industry. Consequently, the area is peppered with
unique examples of architecture and hidden mementoes
from the past that are waiting to be explored. Walk This
Way will guide you through this journey of discovery, into
the heart and the history of South Bank.
See www.southbanklondon.com for a more detailed profile of the buildings and
streets featured in Walk This Way South Bank.
At a brisk pace, the Walk This Way South Bank route will take at least 50 minutes,
although it is recommended that you allow more time to stop and sightsee at
various points along the route.
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South Bank Influences
The Railway
From its arrival in 1848 the Railway has dominated the area,
dividing it from the river with a bastion of brickwork and
isolating the waterfront. With powers of compulsory purchase,
the railway company was free to demolish anything to
increase its railway lines and terminus. (One such casualty in
1900 was the insalubrious Whore-terloo neighbourhood.)
The vast number of steam trains running from the Station (as
many as 700 a day by the end of the nineteenth century)
polluted the local air, already choked by two centuries of
industry, with thick smog.
The Festival of Britain
Ironically, it was the Second World War, which had done so
much damage to the area, that was responsible for much of its
regeneration. Intending to create a tonic for the war-scarred
nation, the South Bank was chosen as the site for the Festival
of Britain. The bombed-out riverside was cleared and built
upon, becoming the site, in 1951, of a national celebration.
The Royal Festival Hall remained as a permanent legacy, to be
followed in subsequent decades by other arts venues, such as
the Hayward Gallery and Royal National Theatre, adding a
new chapter to the history of the South Bank.
Community
Bomb-damage, commercial development and the decline of
traditional industries took their toll on the post-war population
of South Bank and by the 1970s, the residential population
had fallen from 50,000 to just 4,000. A proposed skyscraper
development in 1977 threatened to seal the river off from the
interior completely, prompting the protests of the Coin Street
Community Action Group. By 1984 this group proved
successful and formed a not-for-profit company to redevelop
and regenerate the area. Since then, derelict buildings have
been demolished, new parks and riverside walkways have
been opened up and affordable housing has been built,
reversing the population decline, as well as introducing
workshops, public art and festivals to the area.
One of Englands great religious poets and artists
William Blake ( 17571827) spent almost a decade in the
then-rural village of Lambeth Marsh, which would inspire the
production of some of his finest works.
The Marsh
The Anglo-Saxon origin of Lambeth: Lambhythe, implies that
a muddy harbour or marsh had been present from the earliest
days of London. As the city grew, the Marsh, a prime location
but difficult to develop, remained largely untouched, a green
oasis of agriculture and public gardens where urbanites could
find refreshment in a rural surrounding.
Theatre
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the area of
Lambeth urbanised and the entertainment world burgeoned.
Away from the rigid theatrical duopoly of the north bank, the
cheap land of Lambeth enabled individual impresarios to
build and develop their own performance venues, creating all-
year, all-weather venues. Taverns converted to music halls and
fringe Penny Gaffs were ubiquitious. Without artistic
restrictions or censorship (unlike the north bank), the theatres
of the Marsh were quite permissive and, before modern film
and radio put the theatres out of business, many were closed
down for being disorderly houses.
Industry
It was in the eighteenth century that industry also began to
develop in the area: some needed the Marshs fresh water
supply (for brewing or cloth bleaching); others exploited the
cheap land and river access to move or store their bulk goods
(limestone, scrap iron and wood). Improved access from the
new Westminster and Blackfriars bridges, combined with the
need for large amounts of industrial labour led to a
population explosion in the once-quiet village as thousands
flocked to the South Bank to work on the coal wharves, timber
yards, potteries, dye works, lime kilns, blacking factories and
printing houses. The growth of industry was one of the key
components in Lambeths transformation from rural haven
into a centre of industry, the other was the railway.
There is a grain of sand in Lambeth that satan cannot find,
Nor can his Watch Fiends find it: tis translucent and has
many angles
WILLIAM BLAKE, SOUTH BANK RESIDENT
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Walking route
Pier
Toilets
Toilets with disabled access
Baby changing facilities
Rail
Underground
Restaurants
Cafes
Shopping
Waterloo
Millennium Pier
Festival Pier
Embankment Pier
Savoy Pier
Key
1 Westminster Bridge
2 South Bank Lion
3 County Hall
4 London Eye
5 Golden Jubilee Bridges
6 Royal Festival Hall
7 National Film Theatre
8 Waterloo Bridge
9 National Theatre
10 Hayward Gallery
11 South Bank Banners
12 Gabriels Wharf & Bernie Spain
Gardens
13 Oxo Tower Wharf
14 Blackfriars Bridge
15 Stamford House
16 London Nautical School
17 Palm Housing Co-operative
18 6519 Stamford Street
19 Royal Waterloo Hospital for
Children & Women
20 bfi London IMAX Cinema
21 St. John The Evangelist Church
22 172 Roupell Street
23 Young Vic
24 129 Ufford Street
25 The Stage Door
26 David Grieg Department Store
27 Old Vic
28 Waterloo Millennium Green
29 Crown & Cushion
30 London Necropolis Station
31 Christchurch & Upton Chapel
32 Wellington Mills
33 St. Georges Roman Catholic
Cathedral
34 Imperial War Museum
Transport
General travel information can be obtained on Transport for
Londons 24-hour number: 020 7222 1234, www.tfl.gov.uk
Underground Stations
Waterloo Northern, Bakerloo, Waterloo & City and Jubilee
(Jubilee Line exit is wheelchair accessible)
Southwark Jubilee
(main exit is wheelchair accessible)
Buses
The buses that stop at or near Waterloo include:
1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 77, 168, 171, 172, 188, 211, 243, 341, 507, 521,
X68, N1, N68, N171, N381
Riverside (RV1) Bus Service
Riverside 1 is a bus service linking Covent Garden, South Bank,
Waterloo, Bankside, London Bridge and Tower Gateway,
providing a cost-effective, easily recognisable link to over
thirty of Londons attractions.
Route Accessibility
There is no through access from point 14. Continue along Upper
Ground to reach Rennie Street and point 15 to resume the route.
Accessibility Information
London Eye 0870 990 8885
Royal Festival Hall 020 7921 0971
National Film Theatre 020 7388 2227
National Theatre 020 7452 3000
Hayward Gallery 020 7921 0813
Oxo Tower Wharf 020 7401 2255
bfi London IMAX Cinema 020 7388 2227
Imperial War Museum 020 7416 5262
Map reproduced from Ordnance
Survey Landplan 1:5000 mapping
with permission of the Controller
of Her Majestys Stationery Office
Crown copyright;
Licence Number 398179
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Westminster Bridge
For centuries before the construction of
Westminster Bridge, the monopoly of
Thames crossings was held by the London
ferrymen. Battling against these powerful
established interests, the campaigners for
a new bridge were finally permitted to
raise funds for the bridge through a public
lottery, a fact which only increased the
derision from those who opposed the
Bridge of Fools. In 1739, the first
foundations of the new bridge were laid,
beginning an eleven-year project beset by
European warfare, ferrymen sabotage, the
death of the bridges sponsor, a small
earthquake and the Thames freezing over.
Even when the bridge finally opened, it
tended to sway on its foundations and
was never fully trusted. Rebuilding work
began in 1853 on a seven-arch bridge of
wrought-iron, decorated with Gothic
detailing by Charles Barry, architect of
Parliament. Setting a precedent that
others soon followed, Westminster was the
bridge that opened up the South Bank.
The South Bank Lion
Westminster Bridge
This thirteen-ton Lion is one of the last-
known products to be made of Coade
Stone, a hard-wearing material produced
by a mother-and-daughter factory on the
South Bank. Founded in 1769, Eleanor
Coades stone ornaments were a major
feature on the buildings of Georgian
London. The Lion was commissioned for
the South Banks Red Lion Brewery where,
painted red, it stood on the roof for over a
century. When the bomb-damaged
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Thomas Page
1862
W F Woodington
1837
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Brewery was demolished in 1951 to build
the Royal Festival Hall, the Lion was
spared at the behest of George VI and
moved to its present location in 1966.
County Hall
Belvedere Road
Home for the London County Council, the
Main Building is a six-storey, symmetrical
construction, faced with Portland Stone, in
the Edwardian baroque style. It took
twenty-five years to complete (outlasting
its architect, who died in 1929), with
North, South and Island Blocks added
thereafter (the last in 1974). The capitals
government, known as the Greater London
Council from1965, was abolished in 1986.
County Hall now houses the Saatchi
Gallery, Dal Universe, the London
Aquarium and two hotels.
British Airways London Eye
Jubilee Gardens
Already an established landmark that
attracts millions, the inspiration for the
London Eye came from: The perfect
symmetry of a circle which - from a
distance - seems to be transparent,
embodies the passages of time. An
integration of architecture, engineering
and design, the creation of the London
Eye was a project that brought together
engineers from all over Europe on a British
design. The sections of this 2,100 tonne
construction were transported down the
Thames and raised a massive 135 metres
high. From that height, 15,000 passengers
a day, travelling in the 32 glass
observation pods, can view up to 25 miles
over the city and beyond.
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Ralph Knott
19111933
Marks Barfield
2000
Golden Jubilee Bridges
Originally built as a suspension footbridge,
the Hungerford Bridge (named after the
market on the north bank) was bought in
1859 to extend a railway line to the new
Charing Cross station. Much of the original
bridge was recycled and used in Bristols
Clifton Bridge, while the new bridge, of
trussed iron girders (replaced with steel in
1982), is the only London crossing to com-
bine foot and rail. In 2000, a project was
started to create two new foot-bridges to
replace the single dilapidated footbridge.
Christened the Golden Jubilee Bridges,
this new visual landmark for London has
opened up the heart of the river in one of
Londons most breathtaking locations.
Royal Festival Hall
Belvedere Road
Built on the site of the Red Lion Brewery,
the Royal Festival Hall is the only
permanent legacy of the 1951 Festival Of
Britain. Designed in a Modernist style
with glazed screens and Portland Stone
facings, with a green roof of weather-
exposed copper, it is the first post-war
building to receive a Grade 1 listing.
Inside, the auditorium is built high on the
upper floors, insulated from the sound of
the nearby railway, while beneath are
placed galleries, restaurants, shops, cafs
and performance areas. In 1965 a
redevelopment scheme was completed
that now defines much of the outward
appearance: the Portland Stone exterior
was re-cased; the river frontage was
pushed thirty yards forward; and a new
riverside entrance was created. In 2001 a
60 million programme was commenced
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Isambard Kingdom
Brunel
1845
Robert Matthew,
Leslie Martin
194851
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to renovate and upgrade the facilities,
qualities and capabilities of the Concert
Hall, as well as restoring much of the
original features of the Peoples Place.
National Film Theatre
Upper Ground
The NFT owes it origins to the 1951
Festival of Britain and the Tlekinema,
a purpose-built cinema designed to
celebrate British film-making and
technology. Never intended to be a
permanent exhibition, the Tlekinemas
popularity led to the National Film Theatre
opening in 1957, tucked underneath
Waterloo Bridges southern arches. Initially
containing only one cinema, the Theatre
was given a second in 1970 and is now
one of the worlds leading cinematheques,
organising the London Film Festival.
Waterloo Bridge
Designed as the Strand Bridge, the granite
construction was bought by the
government, re-named Waterloo Bridge
after the recent victory and opened in
1817. Falling into neglect, by 1923 the
bridge was deemed beyond repair and
closed permanently. Work eventually
began on a replacement in 1939,
immediately delayed by the outbreak of
War, though work continued throughout,
mostly with female labour. The new bridge
was even built with demolition chambers,
in case of enemy invasion, though it was
nearly demolished in a more direct fashion,
being damaged by enemy action several
times. Labour shortage and V2 rockets
notwithstanding, the current construction
of reinforced concrete was opened in 1945.
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Leslie Martin,
Hubert Bennett
195658
Giles Gilbert Scott
193745
National Theatre
Upper Ground
In 1976, after more than a century of
planning and fourteen years in the Old
Vic, the National Theatre company moved
into the three theatres of their new
building: Lyttelton, Olivier, and Cottesloe.
Lasdun's 'Modernist'design of reinforced
concrete and horizontal lines, with a
skyline augmented by the massive Olivier
and Lyttelton fly-towers, has become a
landmark of the South Bank. In 1997 work
began to develop and renovate the
National Theatre's main entrance, box
office, bookshop and foyer performance
areas; the backstage equipment was
upgraded; and a new exterior performance
space added: 'Theatre Square'
Hayward Gallery
Belvedere Road
Named after Sir Isaac Hayward (leader of
the London County Council), the Gallery is
one of Londons main venues for large art
exhibitions. It is considered a classic
example of sixties brutalist architecture:
reinforced concrete following strong
horizontal lines with the top two of its
three levels accessible from the pedestrian
walkways that traverse the area. The little
pyramids that crown the building are, in
fact, skylights for the upper gallery. There
are five galleries in total, of differing
shapes and sizes, displaying both classical
and contemporary art. Crowning the
gallery is the neon tower, originally an
exhibit, this kinetic sculpture changes
colour in response to the direction, speed
and strength of the wind.
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South Bank Banners
Upper Ground
Sixty-six huge banners along the streets of
the South Bank create Londons biggest
open-air art gallery. Specially designed,
selected from more than two thousand
entries and illuminated at night, the
banners bring colour and energy to the
skyline.
Upper Ground
From the Middle Ages, artificial banks and
causeways were constructed in Lambeth
and Southwark to allow crossings of the
flooded low-lands and to hold back the
Thames. The most important of these
causeways were Bankside, The Broad Wall
and The Narrow Wall. Once the river had
been successfully pushed back, the
causeways became roads, and The Narrow
Wall remained, changing its name to
Upper Ground Street (also because of its
causeway origin) in 1787. The Broad Wall
was a neighbouring street, becoming
Broadwall in 1881.
Gabriels Wharf & Bernie Spain
Gardens
Upper Ground
The site for the annual Coin Street Festival,
Gabriels Wharf is a crafts market, having
turned old garages into colourful studio
premises with public seating, a bandstand
and a backdrop painted on the
overlooking wall. The Gardens, named
after local resident and campaigner
Bernadette Spain, once the site of the
Eldorado Ice Cream Company, are now
riverside areas of grassland and
flowerbeds with public seating.
Denys Lasdun
19691976
Stanton Williams
19972000
Hubert Bennet,
Jack Whittle
196368
Liftschutz Davidson and
individual artists
1997
Coin Street
Community Builders
1988
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Paris Garden
A small hundred-acre manor between
Lambeth and Southwark, Paris Garden
Manor dates back to 1113. In 1660 it was
developed into housing and a parish
church, almost all of which collapsed on
the undrained ground. Blackfriars Road,
built in 1769, cut through the Manor,
leaving only the name, which replaced
that of Brunswick Street in the twentieth
century.
Hatfields
On this site, in the days of rural Lambeth,
there were once fields where beaver-skins
were prepared to be manufactured into
fine hats. Millinery continued with the
construction of a hat factory in the
Victorian era on the corner of Stamford
Street. The factory is now a public house,
The Mad Hatter.
London Nautical School
Stamford Street
The Nautical School was founded in 1915
to educate naval cadets as a response to
the Titanic disaster. The original
Rotherhithe premises were destroyed in
the Second World War and it occupied its
present building in 1965, by which time
the school playground had received a
Neo-Classical portico with Greek columns,
added when the neighbouring Unitarian
Chapel (built in 1823) was demolished.
Before the Nautical School moved in, the
building had previously been owned by
the London School Of Printing (1921-
1965), and The Benevolent Society Of St
Patrick (1820-1921), a charity founded in
1784 to educate and clothe poor Irish
children.
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Blackfriars Bridge
Opening in 1769 as William Pitt Bridge
(after the Tory Prime Minister), the
unpopular title was soon changed to that
of the Black Friars, a begging order of
Dominican Monks that settled in London
in 1279. The bridge itself had nine
elliptical arches of Portland Stone (the
designs are depicted on the walls of the
southern underpass) and was rebuilt with
five cast-iron arches on granite piers. All
that now remains of the Blackfriars Rail
Bridge, which once ran parallel, are the
red columns in the river and the brightly
coloured cast-iron insignia of the company:
London, Chatham and Dover Railway.
Stamford House
Rennie Street
From 1890, until October 2001 this site
was the headquarters of J Sainsbury plc.
Once a depot and factory, Stamford House
was built in 1912 from reinforced concrete,
hidden away behind red brick and stone
dressings. The lower floors are fronted by
great archways while the upper floors rest
on Corinthian-style pilasters.
Rennie Street
The architect and engineer John Rennie
(1761-1821), lived and worked close to
this road. Rennie designed the mechanised
Albion Flour Mills at Southwark, turning
the site into his workshops when the Mills
burnt down. Rennie also designed the
original Southwark and Waterloo Bridges
and even, posthumously, the nineteenth
century London Bridge.
Oxo Tower Wharf
Upper Ground
Built as a power station, the Wharf was
acquired in the 1920s by a Meat Extract
Company, which built great cranes on the
riverside frontage to haul meat from
Thames barges directly into their factory.
In the 1930s, the Company also built a
tower that carried the illuminated name of
their most famous product. Designed to
circumvent strict laws about exterior
advertising, the letters that spelt out OXO
were in fact stained glass windows. The
industry faded away however, and by the
1970s the building was an empty shell.
When a developer proposed to demolish
the building to build a massive hotel and
skyscraper, the local community rallied in
protest. After seven years, the community
prevailed and the Coin Street Community
Builders were formed as a consequence, to
restore and regenerate the area. One of
their tasks was the refurbishment of the
derelict wharf, giving it a paved mall area,
retail units, exhibition space, restaurants
and housing, and earning it the 1997
Building of the Year Award for Urban
Regeneration.
A W Moore
1928
Lifschutz Davidson
1995
J. Cubitt
186069
Sykes
1912
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James Montague
1820
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Palm Housing Co-operative
Broadwall
The second of the Coin Street Community
Builders housing developments consists of
eleven three-storey terraced houses
sandwiched between two four-storey
blocks of flats, with a small nine-storey
tower at the north end, directing the
terrace towards the river while at the same
time overlooking the neighbouring Bernie
Spain Gardens. The building itself was
made from an unusually diverse palette of
materials (brick, hardwood, zinc, lead and
copper) which combine with the buildings
design of red brick, balconies, gabled roofs
and glazed screens to produce some of the
areas most appealing architecture.
Aquinas Street
Originating around 1819 as Thomas
Street, the street was re-named in 1888
Aquinas Street, originating from the
medieval theologian, St Aquinas.
Coin Street
Once Princes Street, it was re-named in
1893, probably after the nearby Tudor
mint of coinage, established by Henry
VIII, that had been recently unearthed.
65119 Stamford Street
Stamford Street
This row of Georgian houses stretch
along the length of what was once
Upper Stamford Street, built to house the
reputable residents of the newly urbanised
South Bank. Converted into flats in 1912,
some gained additional features, like first
floor pediments over the windows, and the
ten-bay Corinthian centrepiece.
Lifschutz Davidson
1995
David Laing
1829
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M S Nicholson
190305
Brian Avery & Associates
1999
Stamford Street
Translating as Sandy Ford, it was
probably another of Lambeths causeways.
Once a small street in Southwark, in
1815 it was extended (as Upper Stamford
Street) all the way to Waterloo Road.
The two roads were merged in 1868.
Royal Waterloo Hospital
For Children & Women
Waterloo Road
Beginning as a dispensary in the City, the
Royal Universal Infirmary For Children
moved to the South Bank in 1823, one of
the first buildings on Waterloo Road. It was
completely rebuilt in 1905 with red brick,
terracotta dressings and a ceramic facade
that bore the new name of the institution.
The Hospital closed in 1936, and the
building now houses one of the campuses
of the Schiller International University.
bfi London IMAX Cinema
Waterloo Road
Out of Waterloo Roads sunken bullring
roundabout rises the giant glass drum of
the IMAX. Home to the biggest cinema
screen in the country: 20m by 26m (the
height of five double-decker buses) and
complemented by the worlds most
sophisticated sound and projection
system. The exterior walls of the building
project include a major work of art by
Howard Hodgkin, one of Britains most
distinguished artists, and at night they
are lit with a variety of colours.
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Waterloo Station
The first Waterloo Station, built from
1848-85, was a confused collection of
eighteen platforms spread over four
stations, entirely beyond the
comprehension of the average commuter.
By 1900, it was decided to demolish the
terminal and build a new station, a
construction of red brick and Portland
Stone, whose twenty-one platforms and
grand booking hall were complete by
1922. The Station received fifty bomb hits
during the War, but remained operational
and was the terminus for the 1951 Festival
of Britain. The Stations best exterior
feature is: the main entrance, named
Victory Arch (after the First World War),
which includes sculptures around its
massive fanlight.
St. John The Evangelist Church
Waterloo Road
Built in the early 1820s, St Johns is
known as one of the four Waterloo
Churches. It was designed in the Neo
Classical style, with Greek columns and
portico, crowned with a tall thin steeple.
In 1940, the church received a direct hit
during a bombing raid, and though the
crypt was strong enough to protect those
who sheltered within, the interior of the
church was gutted. (One of the few
surviving pieces was the eighteenth
century Italian white marble font.) In
1950, the Church was selected for
inclusion in the 1951 Festival of Britain
and the building was restored.
Francis Octavius Bedford
182224
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172 Roupell Street
Roupell Street
These Grade 2 listed buildings were once
workers houses. Their two-storey terraces
with double-pitched (two slopes rising
to a point) roofs are an elegant contrast
to the truncated monopitch (only one
slope) homes of the neighbouring
Whittlesey and Theed Street, which are
of the same period. Built by and named
after John Roupell, a local scrap metal
merchant, it was Roupells grandson,
William, who would give the family
name its greatest notoriety, when he
was investigated as a corrupt Member
of Parliament and convicted of embezzling
the family fortune.
Windmill Walk
Windmill Street took its name from
Lambeths mills, once a key feature of
its pre-industrial economy. A mill was even
used to power the local Horn Brewery,
whose taphouse has today evolved into
a pub, named The Windmill. The street,
now pedestrianised, is now called
Windmill Walk.
Cons Street
Once Little Windmill Street, it was
re-named after one of Lambeths most
vigorous nineteenth century social
reformers: Emma Cons. Cons is best
remembered for her attempts to reform
the Old Vic Music Hall, which she owned
from 1880. Alcohol and unsuitable
performances (such as Shakespeare) were
banished from the Old Vic, and replaced
with coffee and sobriety lectures, without
great success.
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1818
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The Young Vic Theatre
The Cut
In 1970, with the National Theatre
Company based at the Old Vic, Laurence
Olivier and Frank Dunlop established the
Young Vic to give emerging actors and
directors the opportunity to present
theatre to a younger audience in an
intimate, informal space. The theatres
entrance is through an old butchers shop
the only building remaining on the site
following a direct hit during the Blitz in
1941. A thriving part of Londons theatre
scene it has recently undergone redevelop-
ment. A large painting by abstract artist
Clem Crosby will surround the main
auditorium. It reopens in autumn 2006.
129 Ufford Street
Ufford Street
These cottages were constructed at the
turn of the twentieth century, with features
interesting enough to distinguish them
from their contemporaries and a Grade 2
listing from English Heritage.
The Stage Door
Webber Street
In Samuel Pepys diary of 1665, he
mentions drinking at a Half-the-Way inn.
The tavern was probably the Halfway
House, positioned exactly halfway
between London Bridge and the
Westminster crossing at Stangate. The
Halfway House lasted until 1985 when it
was remodelled and renamed The Stage
Door, presumably because of the
neighbouring Old Vic theatre.
W G Howell
1970
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H Payne
192829
R Cabanel
181618
26
David Grieg Department Store (former)
133155 Waterloo Road
In the 1920s this building was
constructed as a department store for
David Grieg Ltd. Only the buildings ashlar
faade of giant three-storey columns now
remain (awarded a Grade 2 listing), while
the remainder of the building has long-
since been demolished. Behind the faade,
a new building was erected in 1979 to
house the Department of Health.
The Old Vic Theatre
The Cut
Opening in 1816 as The Royal Coburg
Theatre (original arches still on the walls),
it was renamed the Royal Victoria Hall in
1833, which quickly became the Old Vic,
a bawdy and drunken music hall. For this
reason the social reformer Emma Cons
bought the theatre in 1880, and turned
it into the Royal Victoria Coffee Hall,
for sobriety and learning, driving out
corrupting influences like alcohol and
blood-and-guts Shakespeare. In 1912,
Cons niece, Lilian Baylis, took control
and re-established the theatres dramatic
productions to great success. By 1962,
the Old Vic was one of Londons premier
venues and the natural choice to house
the fledgling National Theatre, which it
did until 1976. In 1983 the building
was extensively restored, resulting in
its present faade, and operates as a
successful London theatre.
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Waterloo Community
Charity
2001
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Waterloo Millennium Green
Baylis Road
Opposite the Old Vic is Waterloo
Millennium Green, a new public park
created by a community-led regeneration
project funded predominantly by the
London Borough of Lambeth, the
Countryside Agency and charitable trusts.
The park provides green public space in
Waterloo for workers, residents and
visitors, hearkening back to the days when
Lambeth was dotted with leisure gardens
and public areas, before the mass-
urbanisation of the nineteenth century.
Frazier Street
Named after Fraziers Circus, a nineteenth
century Penny Gaff. Gaffs were theatrical
shows performed by out-of-work actors in
derelict buildings, both of which were
plentiful in Lambeth Marsh. Bawdy songs,
garbled Shakespeare and blood-and-
thunder melodramas were performed in
arenas that could squeeze in as many as
a thousand. Cheap and appealing, these
Gaffs were a popular attraction of
Londons night-life.
Lower Marsh
The name originated from Lambeth Marsh,
the rural village that developed and
urbanised in the eighteenth century.
The road leading through the village was
divided by the Waterloo Railway line in
1848 and renamed Upper Marsh and
Lower Marsh, on either side of the tracks.
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Crown And Cushion Pub
135 Westminster Bridge Road
In 1615, The Dunghill Cock tavern
opened in Lambeth. By 1785, the name
had changed to The Crown And Cushion
and a century later, the pub moved to its
new premises, a three-storey Victorian
building on the former site of the Flora Tea
Gardens, another of pre-urban Lambeths
open-air venues.
London Necropolis Station (former)
121 Westminster Bridge Road
From this building operated Londons only
one-way train service. Founded in 1854 in
response to the city-wide cholera epidemic,
the Necropolis and its hearse-carriages
took the dead of London (as many as fifty
a day) to their final destination. Brookwood
Cemetery, Surrey, the worlds largest at
the time, contained separate platforms
for Anglican and Non-Conformist
deceased, and the station even had a
licensed bar (with a sign that read Spirits
Served Here). The first Necropolis was
demolished in 1900 to allow for the
expansion of Waterloo Station. This
replacement continued to function until
after the Second World War and while the
ground floor has been converted into a
mezzanine, much of the buildings original
features remain.
1893
C B Tubbs
1902
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Hercules Road
The roads name derives from Hercules
Buildings, Georgian houses developed by
dare-devil horseman and theatrical
impresario, Philip Astley. In 1779 he
founded Astleys Amphitheatre, a
permanent circus building which lasted
until the end of the nineteenth century,
despite burning down several times. The
buildings were named after Astleys
Hercules strong-man act and one of his
first residents was the Romantic poet and
artist, William Blake. Blake lived on the
site of the flats named Blake House from
the early 1790s, and the years that he
would spend in lovely Lambeth, some of
the most productive of his life, would be
expressed in his poetry and prose more
than any other part of London.
Christchurch & Upton Chapel
Westminster Bridge Road
Once the site of a female orphanage
(founded in 1758), the local clergyman (a
strong supporter for the Union in the
American Civil War) received many
donations from America to build the
Christchurch. Consequently the design of
the church spire, named the Lincoln
Tower, incorporates red bands and
geometric shapes to form a stars and
stripes pattern that is still visible. During
the bombing of 1940, the Church was all-
but destroyed but the Tower was spared
demolition and given a new chapel in
1960. A six-storey office block was also
added, resulting in the interesting
spectacle of a nineteenth century Gothic
Tower integrated into a twentieth century
office block.
H J Paull & ABickerdike
1873
31
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Wellington Mills
Westminster Bridge Road
This housing co-operative comprises of
140 maisonettes, built by the G.L.C., now
privately-owned. Originating as an
eighteenth century female orphanage,
part of the site was bought by J Oakey
and Sons, who established a factory in
1873 (named Wellington Mills) to produce
emery paper (sandpaper) and blacking.
St Georges Roman Catholic
Cathedral
St. Georges Road
Ironically or intentionally, the high altar
of the Cathedral stands on the very spot
where the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of
1780 began. Opening as the largest
Roman Catholic Cathedral in England, the
architect was A.W.N. Pugin, famed for the
Gothic grandeur of his designs, including
Parliament. Pugins visions had exceeded
the budget, however, and his grand
cruciform cathedral was never fully
completed. A century later, in 1941,
St. Georges was incinerated during a
bombing raid and the neighbouring
Amigo Hall became the pro-cathedral.
Rebuilding work commenced in 1953,
attempting to mix an Arts and Crafts
style with the remnants of the original,
both elements are now visible from within.
B Bienias
197076
A W N Pugin
184048
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Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
Originally the home of the Bethlem Royal
Hospital for the Insane which opened in
1247 as a London priory. St Mary of
Bethlehem gradually began to specialise
in care for the insane and by 1815
Bedlam had moved to its new building in
Lambeth. The hospitals design, a giant
portico with six Ionic columns, was later
augmented by a tall copper dome and two
great flanking wings that gave the
building the longest frontage in Europe.
When the institution moved to Kent in
1926, the London County Council took the
building, demolished the wings and leased
the central portion to the Imperial War
Museum (which had opened at Crystal
Palace in 1920). With both large-scale
hardware (including the two gargantuan
naval guns before the entrance) and
exhibitions on the social effects of war, the
Museum now covers all British conflicts
since 1914.
Where the great hospital wings once stood
is now the expansive Geraldine Mary
Harmsworth Park, named after the mother
of Viscount Rothermere. One of the Parks
most recent additions is the Samten Kyli
the Tibetan Garden of Contemplation and
Peace, which was opened by the Dalai
Lama in 1999. Around the garden are
sculptures representing earth, air, water
and fire, while the centrepiece is a
Buddhist symbol connected with peace
and well-being.
James Lewis
1815
34 34
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More Walking Guides
If you have enjoyed this guide then please visit
www.southbanklondon.com to discover the other titles
in the series:
Walk This Way Riverside London
From Tate Britain to the Design Museum
Walk This Way Golden Jubilee Bridges
From Soho & Covent Garden to South Bank
Walk This Way Millennium Bridge
From St Pauls Cathedral to Bankside and Borough
Walk This Way A Young Persons Guide
A discovery of the Thames, especially written for
young people
Acknowledgements
The Walk This Way series has been researched and
published by South Bank Employers Group, a
partnership of the major organisations in South Bank,
Waterloo and Blackfriars with a commitment to
improving the experience of the area for visitors,
employees and residents.
This guide has been made possible thanks to funding
from the Waterloo Project Board and Cross River
Partnership, which are supported by the London
Development Agency.
For further information about Walk This Way or the
South Bank, please see www.southbanklondon.com
South Bank Employers Group
103 Waterloo Road
SE1 8UL
T: 020 7202 6900
E: mail@southbanklondon.com
Photography: Peter Durant/ arcblue.com
Graphic design: Mannion Design
Map design: ML Design
BA London Eye (4) is the worlds
tallest observation wheel offering
spectacular views across London.
A London Eye river cruise operates
from the pier throughout the day.
0870 990 8883
www.ba-londoneye.com
Jubilee Gardens (4) is the perfect
place to relax with a picnic and soak-
up the sensational riverside views.
The South Bank Centre, including the
Royal Festival Hall (6), offers music
and performing arts from around the
world. There are free installations and
performances in the Royal Festival
Hall foyer every weekday lunchtime.
0870 401 8181/www.rfh.org.uk
RFH reopens in Summer 2007
National Film Theatre (7) is one of
the worlds greatest cinemas and hosts
a wide range of screenings and talks.
It is home to the London Film Festival
and also offers themed seasons
throughout the year.
020 7928 3232
www.bfi.org.uk/nft
National Theatre (9) presents
an eclectic mix of new plays and
classics. Also, there are three
restaurants, a bookshop, free foyer
music on weekdays at 6pm and
Saturdays at 1pm & 6pm, and every
summer, the colourful street theatre
festival Watch This Space.
020 7452 3000
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Hayward Gallery (10), also part of
the South Bank Centre, is the largest
most versatile public art exhibition
space in the country, presenting
exhibitions that span history,
cultures and media.
0870 169 1000
www.hayward.org.uk
From June to September,
Bernie Spain Gardens (12) hosts
the Coin Street Festival culminating
in The Mayors Thames Festival in
mid-September
020 7401 2255
www.coinstreetfestival.org
thegallery@oxo(13) at Oxo Tower
Wharf and Bargehouse are two venues
with regular free exhibitions.
020 7401 2255
www.oxotower.co.uk
bfi London IMAX Cinema (20)
allows you to experience larger-than-
life images and ultra-realistic digital
sound. The cinema shows 2D and 3D
films on the largest cinema screen in
the UK.
0870 787 2525
www.bfi.org.uk/imax
Young Vic (23) is the country's
leading home for world-class directors
and younger theatre artists presenting
seasons of classic plays and
rediscovered theatrical gems.
020 7928 6363 www.youngvic.org
The Young Vic is on Walkabout while its home is
redeveloped. Its shows will be appearing across
London before it reopens in autumn 2006. Visit
www.youngvic.org for details
Old Vic Theatre (27) is one of
London's oldest theatres, famous
throughout the English speaking
world. Long known as 'the actors'
theatre', many of the greatest
performers of the last century have
played on its stage, and since 2004 it
has been under the artistic direction of
Kevin Spacey.
0870 060 6628
www.oldvictheatre.com
Imperial War Museum (34) uses
personal stories to tell the story of
conflict from the First World War to the
present day. Free events for all the
family are held throughout the year.
020 7416 5320 www.iwm.org.uk
Also on the South Bank:
The Museum of Garden History
020 7401 8865
www.museumgardenhistory.org
The Florence Nightingale Museum
020 7620 0374
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Oxo Tower Wharf (13)
With three levels of design shops Oxo
Tower Wharf is a hotbed of creativity
and design flair in home style, design,
jewellery and fashion. Pick up stylish
presents from 5 or commission
something unique.
Gabriels Wharf (12)
Gabriel's Wharf is home to an array of
shops selling unique design items
including jewellery, fashion and home
accessories. From Indian fair-trade
furnishings to affordable artwork.
Qualified therapists also turn Gabriels
Wharf into a shoppers retreat.
Festival Riverside (6)
Fantastic arts-related shops in
beautiful riverside location, from
international music at MDC Music &
Movies to the latest books at Foyles.
Lower Marsh and The Cut
(292823)
Minutes from Waterloo Station, these
historic streets are vibrant, and friendly,
offering an eclectic array of shops
selling everything from vintage
clothing to quirky gifts.
The Best of the Rest
Dont miss the fantastic shops at these
South Bank attractions.
Hayward Gallery
Imperial War Museum
London Eye
National Theatre
South Bank Centre (6)
Drop into the Hayward Gallery for a
coffee at Starbucks or, at the Festival
Riverside, choose from sandwiches at
EAT, family-friendly dining at Giraffe,
Italian cuisine at Strada or noodles at
Wagamama. Alternatively try a light
bite at the Festival Square Caf.
National Film Theatre (7)
Relax with a chilled drink from the cool
bar or enjoy a light meal. The outdoor
terrace is perfect for long, lazy summer
afternoons.
National Theatre (9)
Enjoy sandwiches and pastries at the
ground floor Espresso Bar, light meals
at the Terrace and Circle Cafs and
formal dining at the Mezzanine
Restaurant.
Gabriels Wharf (12)
A range of bars, cafes and restaurants
with both indoor and outdoor seating
and stunning riverside views. A perfect
spot for lunch or grabbinga quick snack.
Oxo Tower Wharf (13)
You can enjoy soup, sandwiches
or sushi at EAT caf on the ground
floor or travel to the 8th floor and have
a drink at the OXO Tower Bar or dine
in the famous brasserie or restaurant.
The Old Vic Bar & Restaurant (27)
Join an arty crowd for a drink at this
buzzy theatre bar or explore the varied
restaurant menu.
Lower Marsh and The Cut
(292823)
These two streets play host to an
enormous selection of cafes, bars and
restaurants, featuring tastes from
around the world.
Marriott Hotel County Hall (3)
provides luxurious accommodation
right at the heart of the South Bank.
The hotel has an amazing and recently
renovated spa and leisure club,
boasting the largest gym and
swimming pool in a hotel in London,
where relaxing treatments and a
leisurely swim can be enjoyed after a
hard day's shopping and sightseeing.
020 7928 5200
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